He was dressed in a rough tweed suit rather worn, with the orchid that seemed to be the badge of all this tribe in his buttonhole.

Somehow the costume suited his rather pink and white complexion and rumpled fair hair, which I could see as he was sitting on his cloth hat.
"Thank you, no," I answered, "I did not come here to buy.

I know nothing about orchids," I added by way of explanation, "except a few I have seen growing in Africa, and this one," and I tapped the tin case which I held under my arm.
"Indeed," he said.

"I should like to hear about the African orchids.
What is it you have in the case, a plant or flowers ?" "One flower only.

It is not mine.